Sodium or ammonia may have fueled Iran port explosion - CNN

Expectations for a significant breakthrough in the indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States are low, according to Alex Greenberg, an Iran expert at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security.

Speaking to Iran International, Greenberg said that "there isn't much hope for reaching a serious agreement between the Islamic Republic and the United States, not just for me, but for many other observers. Because no one really knows what is happening in the negotiation process."

Greenberg expressed skepticism about a fundamental shift in Iran's core policies. "In general, it is difficult to imagine the Iranian government abandoning its identity, which is supporting terrorist groups and developing its ballistic missile program. It is not believable that the Islamic Republic would easily abandon these fundamental components of its being," he said.

Greenberg also talked about the irreconcilable positions of Iran and Israel on the nuclear program. "Netanyahu wants the complete dismantling of Iran's nuclear program, but it is unlikely that the Islamic Republic will accept such a thing. Even if there is an agreement, Iran will probably retain some of its nuclear capabilities."

He concluded by raising doubts about Israel's acceptance of any deal that allows Iran to maintain a nuclear program, even in a limited capacity, citing concerns about verification measures.

An Iranian lawmaker said the company that imported cargo linked to the Bandar Abbas port explosion misdeclared the goods to lower customs and storage costs, Iranian media reported on Monday.

"Some on social media said the importing company did not properly declare the shipment to reduce customs and storage fees. Our colleagues’ investigation confirms this," said Ebrahim Azizi, head of parliament’s national security and foreign policy commission, according to state television.

"It appears the importer’s declaration did not match the reality of the storage location," he said, adding that if the cargo had been classified as dangerous or requiring higher safety standards, "it should not have been stored in that area of the port."

Azizi said further investigation was needed into whether safety labels and hazard markings were properly used, the cargo’s exact contents, and whether proper safety rules were followed during unloading.

He stressed that final conclusions would require "technical work, expert review, and sufficient time" and warned against premature judgments.

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An Iranian lawmaker said the explosion at Shahid Rajaei Port in Bandar Abbas was caused by human error and poor safety measures, Iranian media reported on Tuesday.

"The recent incident at the port, involving high-risk export and import activities, shows that logistical systems and safety standards must be carefully evaluated before disasters happen," said Habib Ghassemi, a member of parliament’s construction commission, according to Borna News.

He added: "It appears a combination of human error and weak safety procedures, or possibly each on its own, caused this incident."

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Iran’s Writers Association said the government is using the word "incident" to avoid clear reporting and responsibility after explosions in Bandar Abbas.

"The authorities, who either cause disasters or worsen them, are now trying to hide behind the word 'incident' and dodge their duty to provide transparent information and answer public concerns," the group said in a statement.

The association, known in Persian as Kanoon-e Nevisandegan-e Iran, was banned two years after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Its members have faced systematic harassment and persecution for decades.

The group said public mourning has been tied to "dozens of unanswered questions" and criticized what it called "scattered images and contradictory official media reports," while "what has burned and been lost is the lives and existence of the people."

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Russia’s embassy in Tehran on Tuesday published a video showing a Russian plane dropping water over burning areas of Bandar Abbas, after Iranian officials said Russian planes were not used to fight the fire.

Earlier, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said Russian planes had arrived but were not needed. "Several planes from Russia have arrived and are stationed here, but they have not been needed so far. We thank them," he said on Monday.

Last week, Iran’s ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, said Russia sent three firefighting planes and rescue teams at Iran’s request.

The Russian embassy wrote that its emergency ministry, working closely with Iranian counterparts, carried out a "valuable and courageous" operation in Bandar Abbas.